You may have heard San Francisco called “the City by the Bay” before, but chances are you’ve never thought of it as a beach town. The city’s edges, though, run up against the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, where sandy stretches of beach await.
Conventional wisdom is that it’s always foggy by the beach in San Francisco, but the city’s weather patterns and microclimates allow for exceptions to this rule. Particularly hot SF days often result in great beach weather, and visitors in the fall (a.k.a. “San Francisco summer,” and the best time of the year to visit) may be surprised at the fog-free views and sunny conditions out at the beach.
Ready for a beach day but not sure where to go? Here’s our insider guide to some of the best beaches in San Francisco.
Ocean Beach
Probably the best known of San Francisco’s beaches, Ocean Beach is a 3.5-mile-long stretch of sand right on the edge of the city. It’s a popular spot for picnics, leisurely walks, volleyball games, nighttime bonfires, and the occasional silent disco. Out on the often-massive waves of the Pacific you’ll spot at least a few advanced surfers and countless sea birds; part of the beach itself is a protected nesting area for the tiny and adorable snowy plover.
The Great Highway, a wide two-way road running along the beach, is closed to vehicle traffic on weekends and federal holidays. It’s a great spot for a run, walk, bike ride, or stop at a local food truck.
Ocean Beach is bordered on the east by Golden Gate Park, as well as the Outer Sunset and Outer Richmond neighborhoods. Both neighborhoods have laid-back surfer town vibes, cute shops, and some great places to eat and drink. In the Outer Sunset, grab a sandwich at Java Beach, a vegan breakfast or lunch at Judahlicious, upscale California cuisine at Outerlands, or a draft beer and live music at the Riptide.
In the Outer Richmond, stop by Andytown coffee for their signature Snowy Plover. There’s a large Safeway supermarket nearby where you can grab sandwiches, picnic supplies, firewood, sunscreen, and anything else you might need for a beach day.
Baker Beach
If you want your beach photos to have the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop, Baker Beach is a solid option. Smaller and more secluded than Ocean Beach, Baker takes some effort to get to, but its close-up views of the bridge make it well worth it. The beach connects to the Presidio via hiking trail, and a combination of bus and walking will get you there from HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf hostel or HI San Francisco Downtown hostel in under an hour, though most people arrive by car (or ride share).
Most of Baker Beach puts off a pretty family-friendly vibe: you’re likely to see plenty of sandy picnics, kids splashing in the waves, and dogs chasing their balls. The northern end of the beach is an unofficial “clothing optional” section, so choose your spot to sunbathe accordingly.
Because Baker Beach is more isolated than Ocean Beach, you’ll want to pick up food or other supplies before you head out there.
China Beach
Though it’s just next door to Baker Beach, you’ll have to hike up into the posh Sea Cliff neighborhood and back down in order to get to China Beach. This little crescent of shore on the bay is better sheltered from the wind than most of the city’s other beaches, and is too small for toddlers and dogs to run around, so it offers a more chill alternative to Baker Beach while still giving you a peek of the Golden Gate.
Crissy Field
A beautiful 30-minute walk (or a 10-minute bike ride) along the edge of the city will get you from HI San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf hostel to the postcard-perfect beaches of Crissy Field. Because Crissy Field borders the San Francisco Bay rather than the Pacific Ocean, the water’s much calmer here, and you’ll see at least a few people (and dogs) going for an icy dip. Keep heading west and you’ll hit Golden Gate Beach, which gets you right up next to – you guessed it – the Golden Gate Bridge.
Fort Funston
The Happy Place of every pup in San Francisco, the long off-leash beach at Fort Funston is a dog-lover’s dream. It’s also wildly scenic, backed by enormous sandstone cliffs covered in green ice plant. Making for more than just a great view, those cliffs serve as a launching and landing point for hang gliders and paragliders; when the weather’s just right you’ll see people floating above you in the sky while the dogs enjoy the beach below.